Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

US plans to label Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as terrorist group


(MENAFN) The US plans to classify the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Sunday.

“Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe,” Rubio said in a statement, noting the designation will take effect on Nov. 24.

He accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and senior officials of leading the group, stating they did not “represent Venezuela’s legitimate government.”

“The United States will continue using all available tools to protect our national security interests and deny funding and resources to narco-terrorists,” Rubio added.

Earlier this year, the US designated several Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, giving intelligence agencies wider legal authority for covert operations.

President Donald Trump has continued targeting vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific alleged to transport drugs to the US and has threatened action against Maduro for involvement in drug trafficking.

Trump has also been expanding US military operations across Latin America, deploying Marines, warships, fighter and bomber jets, submarines, and drones. The USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier has reportedly reached the Caribbean as part of this buildup.

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